Derby Street,

The transformation of a vacant urban site in Dundee is now complete, with 162 new homes already occupied by residents. Derby Street delivers the ambitions of the Hilltown Physical Regeneration Framework, renewing a key site for Dundee City Council, Hillcrest Homes and The Fleming Trust.

This was previously home to Butterburn and Bucklemaker Courts, twin multistorey blocks providing around 370 homes in this historically important part of Dundee. Both were demolished in 2012 and the opportunity has arisen to reinstate the historic street patterns, tying in to the existing fabric with a mixed development of family sized houses, apartments, wheelchair accessible homes and supported housing.

At the heart of the development is a new pedestrian thoroughfare linking the busy main street to residential areas. This is located where Russell Street once existed, a cobbled street with tenements and cottages either side. This was lost in the 1970’s when the area was cleared for the multi-storey development. Although many residents can still remember what this once looked like. Consultations have enabled us to build a picture of how this neighbourhood once existed.

The new buildings along the main frontage adopt a varied roof line. This is to mimic the variation in the buildings opposite with tenements alongside cottages. The buildings rise in height to create strong corners with views also from an elevated position.

Buildings to the rear, along Derby Street, are much smaller in scale to reflect semi detached homes opposite and are arranged around tree lined, green crescents, providing a much quieter, pedestrian friendly route linking the nearby church and school to the wider neighbourhood.

Housing Minister, Paul McLennan at the Scottish Government said: “These new homes in Dundee will play a valuable role in boosting both the city’s and Scotland’s housing supply. 150 homes were delivered with the support of the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme, including 128 homes for social rent and 22 for Mid-Market Rent to support households on low to moderate incomes.

Mark Flynn, convener of Dundee City Council's neighbourhood regeneration, housing and estate management committee said: "Like all major cities Dundee is constantly reinventing, renewing and rebuilding to meet the needs of its people. 

"That rejuvenation extends as far as the homes that we live in and when it became obvious some years ago that large multi-storey developments were no longer the way that we wanted to live it was clear that the council had to come up with a new solution while still ensuring that our neighbourhoods retained and regrew a strong sense of community.  

"The historic head and heart connections that so many feel with the 'tap o' the hill' have been encapsulated in this fantastic new development and I am delighted that so many people are enjoying living there."